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Legend Of Seven Monks DVD Credits:

Legend Of Seven Monks Directed by: Kenji Tanigaki Legend Of Seven Monks Written by: Kenji Tanigaki Mao Aoki Legend Of Seven Monks Cast: Yasuaki Kurata J.J. Sonny Chiba Ayumi Kinoshita Yuria Haga Takayuki Tsubaki Anna Nagata Ayaka Komatsu Adgony Lolo

Legend Of Seven Monks Released by: KME Region: 1 Legend Of Seven Monks DVD Release Date: 13th November 2007

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Legend Of Seven Monks Synopsis:

Legend Of Seven Monks DVD Review:

Unless you are a die-hard Japanese action B film buff, I don’t see any reason to subject yourself to Legend of Seven Monks. Granted, it is hilarious but it is also overly noticeable that it is unintentional comedy. There are just some stories that do not need to be told.

We jump right into a cryptic scenario that plays out like the bloodier version of a Scooby-Doo introduction. Then it’s right into a long title sequence that rolls while a large demon effortlessly battles a small army in an overly choreographed fight that has little to do with the film, other than to show that this is a powerful demon that will no doubt cause problems. I must say though, that the sequence is enjoyable in that it is completely editless. It shows how much work went into rehearsing the scene because it is very complicated and executed with pinpoint accuracy. However, it’s not enough to save a film that has so many flaws.

The plot alone is questionable. Only two survivors (Sonny Chiba and Yasuaki Kurata) of the Blue Seven Dragons, who were active spiritual guardians battling evil spirits, remain. When a powerful demon comes to this world to open a scroll that will give him power over the realm of the dead and the realm of the living, it’s up to one girl (Ayumi Kinoshita) to gather descendents of the Blue Seven Dragons in order to prepare for the final battle between good and evil in the Japanese Mountains. Maybe this could work. Maybe. But director, Kenji Tanigaki is much more concerned with action than style and other elements that can help best display such an unconventional story.

Honestly, it feels like you’re watching 3 Ninjas except you aren’t completely sure if you’re supposed to be laughing. Whether it’s the horrible special effects or the obtrusive hard rock music selection, there are constant displays of humor that aren’t meant to be funny. Sometimes it even feels like some sort of soft-core pornographic film except without the sex. That actually might have spiced this film up a bit. It’s just too hard to get past things like the goofy training montage and random over-the-top acts of violence that seem to come out of nowhere. At a certain point, it just becomes silly. I was expecting a more intelligent film concerned more with Chiba and Kurata but instead it’s a hokey story revolving around seven social outcast youths with special powers that have traveled through their lineage. Quite the disappointment.

Legend of Seven Monks does have some well-crafted action scene. I have to give it that. The choreography isn’t always the best but for the most part, it’s cutting edge and exciting. Although, the final fight wages on much too long and you can really see how in love Tanigaki is with action rather than good filmmaking.

The Special Features on this DVD are more of a let down than the film itself. The Behind-The-Scenes Footage is the only interesting thing but it’s mostly fighting with some interviews later on. Oh, and it’s all in Japanese. The Filmographies and Biographies are for your reading pleasure but include no pictures or film clips. Fear not, there is a Photo Gallery if you are so inclined to scrub through some images from the film.

Is it worth watching as a good film? No. Is it a great waste of ninety-two minutes if you just want to laugh and see what newer Japanese action B films are all about? Yes. Just don’t believe the hype about two living legends coming together on screen because it’s a disappointment and this film comes nowhere close to other Hong Kong classics.

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Legend Of Seven Monks DVD review written by: Bryce Carlson